Changes to your medicine

Working together to help the NHS save money

NHS organisations in Leeds are coming together to ensure taxpayers get value for money on medicines prescribed by the NHS. This will not affect adversely the treatment you or a family member receive and you will be involved in any decision to change your medicine.

Find out more by downloading this information leaflet.

Changes you might see

Tablets or capsules
Your doctor may suggest that you change the way in which you take your medicine. For example this could be as a tablet rather than a capsule.

Different strength
Your doctor might ask you to take two pills instead of one but the total dose is the same - this will help support your local NHS.

Medicine groups
There are often a number of similar medicines that do the same job. Your doctor may ask you to use a different medicine to the one you are on now. Again this will have no effect on your treatment but will help the NHS save money.

Brand names
By using generic medicines (non branded) rather than branded ones we can reduce the cost to the NHS while ensuring you still receive the best treatment possible.

Reducing medicine waste - how can I help?

In Leeds alone, an estimated £5 million worth of unused medicines are destroyed each year.

There are four steps local people can take to reduce medicine waste.

They are:

• think before you tick on your prescription, only tick the items you really need; 
• tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have stopped taking any of your medicines; 
• unused medicines cannot be recycled, take them to your pharmacy who will dispose of them safely; and
• if you are going to hospital for treatment please take your medicines with you.  

Related downloads

| Changes your doctor may may make to your medication information leaflet.pdf (4.26 MB)

| Changes your doctor may may make to your medication poster.pdf (0.64 MB)